POP/ROCK | China Crisis

By Katherine Stathis

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UK's canonical new-wave band China Crisis makes an ultra-rare appearance in the United States. China Crisis is best known stateside for "Arizona Sky" and the melancholy "Wishful Thinking." The band shares attributes with fellow post-punk Liverpudlians Teardrop Explodes and OMD — namely smart lyrics and a moody, dancey, multi-dimensional synth aesthetic. The band's genre-busting evolution through the 1980's brought in one of the members' own idols to produce subsequent projects, giving Steely Dan fans reason to scour record bins for "Flaunt the Imperfection," finding signature touches of major dude Walter Becker best exemplified in tracks such as "You Did Cut Me" and "Wall of God." The China Crisis discography is full of sparkling gems.

China Crisis performs Tuesday, April 30, 6:30 p.m. at the Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Ave. This show kicks off the anticipated alternative-music film series curated by Lakeshore Record Exchange. While tickets are free, they are required. Call 276-8950 or visit mag.rochester.edu for details.